To continually enjoy the work of photography, it's essential that you photograph what you love. Resist the temptation to photograph things just because the pros do it. Photographing nudes in black and white with expensive equipment, for example, won't necessarily play a big part in getting others to take you seriously as a photographer. What matters most is the vision you bring to the tableand your persistence.

Photographing subjects you lovewhether they happen to be nature scenes, your kids, your pets, or local wildlifewill help you develop your own ideas and will help you persevere when the going gets tough. Focus on what you love and the great photos will eventually follow.

People

For success with photographing people, one of the best and easiest things to do to is to move in closer. Simply focusing on your subject's face or eyes will eliminate any distracting surrounding details. You can also move in closer on an object that means something to your subject, such as a child's favorite toy. Or, if there's a favorite outfit of your child's that you'd especially like to remember, have your child wear it when it comes time to take pictures. These tips, in addition to the tried-and-true rules and ideas about composition, will help you make successful portraits.

When photographing people, the key is to interact with them in a lighthearted and friendly manner. To do this, learn to work your camera without thinking about it, and more importantly, treat people with a positive, respectful attitudejust how you would like to be treated if someone were taking your picture.